Fastening means



Sept. 1, 1942. PIEPER 2,294,628

FASTENING MEANS Filed Jan. 5, 1942 IN VENT OR.

- B A/ghonse EP/per ATTORNEY: I

Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENING MEANS Alphonse F. Pieper, Brighton, N. Y. Application January 5, 1942, Serial No. 425,620

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a fastening means, and has particular reference to a structure for attaching a member such for example as a fluo-.

rescent lamp carrier or other unit to the exterior surface of a hollow support or standard in a manner that insures rigidity and permits easy removability.

One object of the invention is to afford means for detachably fastening an elongated tube, or other member, to the outer periphery of a cylindrical hollow support in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the latter. Another purpose of the invention is to provide fastening means by which such a member can be secured to the outer periphery of a hollow. cylindrical support by a device engageable with the inner periphery of the support.

An additional object of the invention is to afford a construction that permits of quickly and readily attaching a member to the outer periphery of a hollow support and detaching it therefrom, and which will securely maintain the member firmly in the desired position on the support without likelihood of accidental displacement or breakage.

A further purpose of the invention is to afford a simple structure that can be economically produced, and in which the member to be attached is provided with means extending through an opening in the wall of the support for cooperation with an instrumentality that engages portions of the inner surface of the wall of the support and thus locks the member firmly in position.

Still an additional object of the invention is to afford a fastening means that is especially adaptable to a hollow support having a cylindrical interior surface and in which a fastening device cooperates with the curved inner periphery of the support to position and clamp the member against the support.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, adapted for securing a fluorescent lamp carrier to a hollow support or standard;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with the lamp removed and the carrier partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lamp carrier;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the hollow support or standard showing two lamp carriers secured in position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan View of one of the lamp carrier brackets, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-45 of Fig. 5.

The invention is susceptible of various applications wherever it is desired to secure a member such as a bracket, or tube, transversely of the outer periphery of a hollow support or standard, and it has a particular application in connection with a fluorescent lamp such as disclosed in Patent No. 2,223,874, dated December 3, 1940,

The practice has been to attach such lamp carriers to the central standard or post by soldering or welding, but this procedure has been found to possess certain objections because when shipping a lamp, there is danger of the carriers loosening or breaking away from the standard, also considerably more space is required for packing such a lamp Where the carriers are attached to the standard.

It is therefore essential toprovide detachable fastening means that enables shipping the lamp carriers separate and removed from the standard or support, and permits the lamp carriers to be readily attached to the support when ready for use, in a manner that insures their rigid attachment.

, of the longitudinal axis of the support and inclined thereto in order to permit arranging the lamp carriers in the relationship disclosed in the aforesaid earlier patent.

Each lamp carrier includes a member or bracket embodying tubular end portions 3 within which are permanently attached by Welding, soldering or otherwise, the tubes 4, at the ends of which are mounted sockets 5 for securing a fluorescent lamp 6. The tubular end portions 3 are on opposite sides of the centrally arranged oppositely disposed laterally extending parallel lugs l and 8, which extend through the opening 2 in the hollow support, while the tubular ends 3 of the bracket are seated in the opening 2 resting against the curved ends in the manner shown. The lugs 1 and 8 are preferably of a length corresponding to the length of the straight sides of the opening 2 and are located adjacent thereto, so that when the lugs are inserted into the opening 2, the bracket is automatically positioned and centered with respect to the ends of the opening.

The openings 2 are preferably located near the.

top of the hollow support topermit ready access to the interior thereof for securing the brackets in place, and it is essential to provide means that can be quickly secured Within the support for holding the bracket in operative position thereon.

To accomplish this in a simple and convenient manner, the lugs l and 8 are constructed to receive a fastening device that preferably cooperates. with portions of the inner surface of the hollow support in a manner that retains the bracket tightly against rocking or other motion relatively to the support. This may be effected in various ways, and one simple type of construction consists in forming the lug l with a threaded opening 9 and providing the lug 2 with an opening Iii of somewhat smaller size to receive a fastening device which comprises a pin having an enlarged threaded portion H at its inner end that engages the threaded opening 9, and a reduced unthreaded outer end portion l2 that is guided in the opening 19, the outer end portion 12 having a tapered extremity l3 that enables it readily to enter the opening l0, while I4 is a head at the inner end of the pin. The fastening device is so designed and cooperates with the lugs l and 8 in such fashion that when secured in position as shown in Fig. 4 inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, the head l4 and the end portion l2 engage the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and exert a certain amount of pressure against the inner surface of the wall of the hollow support. This action of the fastening device draws thelugs T and 8 and the bracket inwardly of the hollow support under tension and thus holds the bracket and lamp carrier securely in place.

To secure a bracket to the support, it is placed thereagainst and the lugs l and 8 inserted through the opening 2, then the end l2 of the fastening device is inserted through openings 9 and iii respectively, forcing the head l4 inwardly against the tension imposed by contact with the wall of the support, thus drawing the lugs and bracket inwardly of the opening, until the threaded portion ll reaches the threaded opening 9., Then the fastening device is turned in the threaded opening until the desired tightness of the bracket is obtained.

While the invention has been described with reference to the particular construction shown, it is not confined to the details disclosed, and this application is intended to cover such modifications, departures, or other adaptations as may come within the purposes of the improvement or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a hollow support having an opening in its wall, of a member positioned against the outer periphery of the support, said member having portions extending through the opening, and means engaging said portions and an inner surface of the support and acting to retain the member on the support.

2. The combination with a hollow support having an opening in its wall, of a member positioned against the outer periphery of the support, said member having oppositely disposed spaced lugs extending through the opening, and a fastening device extending through said lugs with its ends engaging portions of the inner surface of the support and acting to retain the member on the support.

3. The combination with a cylindrical tubular support having an opening in its wall, of a member positioned against the outer periphery of the support, said member having oppositely disposed spaced lugs extending through said opening, and

a fastening device extending through said lugs and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, the ends of the fastening device engaging the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and acting to retain the member on the support.

4. The combination with a cylindrical tubular support having an opening in its wall, of a member positioned against the outer periphery of the support, said member having a lug extending through said opening, and a fastening device extending through said lug and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, the ends of the fastening device engaging the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and acting to retain the member on the support.

5. The combination with a cylindrical tubular support having an opening in its wall, of a member positioned against the outer periphery of the support, said member having oppositely disposed spaced lugs extending through said opening, and a fastening device including a reduced outer end guided in an opening in one of said lugs and a threaded enlarged inner end portion having engagement with a threaded opening in the other lug, the ends of the fastening device engaging the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and acting to retain the member on the support.

6. The combination with a cylindrical tubular support having an elongated opening with straight sides and curved ends in its wall, said opening being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, of a cylindrical member seated in said opening, said member having oppositely disposed spaced lugs extending through said opening and located adjacent to the straight sides thereof, and a fastening device extending through said lugs and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, the ends of the fastening dev1ce engaging the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and acting to retain the member on the support.

7. The combination with .a cylindrical tubular support having an elongated opening with straight sides and curved ends in its wall, said opening being inclined to the longitudinal axis ofthe support, of a cylindrical member seated in said opening, said member having oppositely disposed spaced lugs extending through said opening and located adjacent to the straight sides thereof, and a fastening device including a reduced outer end guided in an opening in one of said lugs and a threaded enlarged inner end portion having engagement with a threaded opening in the other lug, the ends of the fastening device engaging the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and acting to retain the member on the support.

8. The combination with a hollow support having an opening in its wall, of a member positioned against the outer periphery of the support, said member including centrally arranged portions extending through the opening, tubular ends on opposite sides of said centrally arranged portions, tubes having their inner ends mounted in said tubular ends of said member, lamp sockets mounted on the outer ends of the tubes, and means engaging said centrally arranged portions and an inner surface of the support and acting to retain the member on the support.

9. The combination with a hollow support having an opening in its wall, of a member positioned against the outer periphery of the support, said member including centrally arranged oppositely disposed spaced lugs extending through the opening, tubular ends on opposite sides of said lugs, tubes having their inner ends mounted in said tubular ends of said member, lamp sockets mounted on the outer ends of the tubes, and a fastening device extending through said lugs with its ends engaging portions of the inner surface of the support and acting to retain the member on the support.

10. The combination with a cylindrical tubular support having an opening in its wall, of a member positioned against the outer periphery of the support, said member including centrally arranged oppostiely disposed spaced lugs extending through said opening, tubular ends on opposite sides of said lugs, tubes having their inner ends mounted in said tubular ends of said member, lamp sockets mounted on the outer ends of the tubes, and a fastening device extending through said lugs and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, the ends of the fastening device engaging the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and acting to retain the member on the support.

11. The combination with a cylindrical tubular support having an elongated opening with straight sides and curved ends in its wall, said opening being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, of a cylindrical member seated in said opening, said member including centrally arranged oppositely disposed spaced lugs extending through said opening and located adjacent to the straight sides thereof, tubular ends on opposite sides of said lugs, tubes having their inner ends mounted in said tubular ends of said member, lamp sockets mounted on the outer ends of the tubes, and a fastening device extending through said lugs and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, the ends of the fastening device engaging the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and acting to retain the member on the support.

12. The combination with a cylindrical tubular support having an elongated opening with straight sides and curved ends in its wall, said opening being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the support, of a cylindrical member seated in said opening, said member including centrally arranged and oppositely disposed spaced lugs extending through said opening and located adjacent to the straight sides thereof, tubular ends on opposite sides of said lugs, tubes having their inner ends mounted in said tubular ends of said member, lamp sockets mounted on the outer ends of the tubes, and a fastening device including a reduced outer end guided in an opening in one of said lugs and a threaded enlarged inner end portion having engagement with a threaded opening in the other lug, the ends of the fastening device engaging the curved inner periphery of the support on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis and acting to retain the member on the support.

ALPHONSE F. PIEPER. 

